Reviews / Cuish Espadin - José Santiago Lopez
Review · · by The Editors
Cuish Espadin - José Santiago Lopez
José Santiago's Matatlán espadín at 48%
Score: 3.5/5 agaves
- Producer: Cuish Mezcales
- Maestro: José Santiago Lopez
- Region: Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca
- Agave: Espadin
- ABV: 48%
- Price: $62 ($)
Verdict
Commercial espadín from Matatlán is a commodity; maestro-level espadín from Matatlán is a statement. Cuish pays José Santiago for the latter and the bottle proves the transaction. Buy it over Del Maguey's Vida for half the brand mystique and twice the depth. The namesake brand doesn't phone in espadín and that matters.
What Matatlán espadín should taste like when somebody's paying attention
Tasting notes
Nose: Roasted agave, then lime peel, dry grass, a clean smoke
Palate: 48% ABV and a named maestro carry this past commercial Matatlán espadín – José Santiago Lopez's hand is steady and the agave reads forward
Finish: Dry, faintly peppery – long
The bottom line
The weekday bottle that punches up a tier
Where to buy online
We found this bottle at 4 US retailers. Prices and stock vary – click through to check.